Cops hunting deadly fire-bomber

2006-04-30 17:23

London - Police in London said on Sunday they were hunting a racist serial fire-bomber after three apparently motiveless petrol-bomb attacks on south Asian business premises in which one man died.

Detective-superintendent Dick Heselden, of London's metropolitan police said: "In the absence of any other possible motive, I'm working on the basis that these are racially-motivated attacks.

"We must catch him before he commits another arson attack in which someone else may be killed."

Heselden was speaking as he released more details into the death of Khizar Hayat, who died on Thursday when a lighted missile was thrown through his Price Cutter shop, on Clapham Road, in the Kennington district of south London.

Linked to two other attacks

Hayat, who is of Kashmiri origin, was trapped in the building as the fire took hold and was declared dead by firefighters. Another man is critically ill in hospital.

"We are now linking two other arson attacks that have happened in south London this month," said.

The first happened at a newsagent in nearby Tulse Hill, Brixton, on April 14 when a customer was burnt on both legs after a petrol bomb was thrown into the shop.

The second was at a corner shop on April 20 in Portland Road, South Norwood. The shopkeeper, who was forced to flee through the flames, was burnt on his arms.

Both shops are run by men of Sri Lankan origin.

Heselden said the attacks were being linked because of similar descriptions given of the attacker - a black man in his early- to mid-30s - their location and the fact that all three businesses were run by south Asian shopkeepers.

"We are concerned that this individual may strike again.

Unable to give motives

"It's my opinion that we're dealing with a serial fire-bomber who is targeting small Asian businesses," said Heselden.

"In each case, the shopkeepers and owners have been unable to give any motive for the attacks.

"There would not appear to be any connection between the businesses involved."

Convenience stores in Britain are largely owned by families with south Asian roots who arrived in the 1970s.

- SAPA